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Reconnect With Fire

A fireplace brings people together.

Nothing beats the warm cosiness of a fireplace.
Why are we so fascinated with campfires, barbeques, and fireworks; so much that we wish to bring fire into our homes?

Fire and fireplaces have been part of our lives as long as man has been cooking their own food. In the past, a fire would bring us not only warmth, but nourishment for cooked food and afterwards, ambiance. Any ‘fire’ brings people together.

In our modern day life, the actual ‘fire’ functions of heating and cooking have been mainly replaced with metal appliances, cold surfaces and impersonal chores.

The roll of a fireplace has been reduced to ambiance;
something that brings casual warmth to the soul.
It’s all about the glow; getting back to nature and having an old-fashioned ‘campfire’ can be a real treat! Let’s utilize this a bit MORE! Use this change of season to form new habits; learn to relax and reconnect, communicate and talk about…anything-you-wish…in front of a fireplace.
Generally place as a focal point in the whole house, fireplaces are often described as an eye-sore. Many clients have expressed concern (or apologise) that their fireplace isn’t quite ‘their taste’ and seeking a replacement in the near future.
Designing a ‘fire element’ or architectural feature in a home, can be very personal. Fire and fireplaces bring a ‘wow’ factor into a room; and yet, the desire for warmth, relaxation and connection can be lost. Have a look at your space: is the fireplace ‘too much’ or does it appear to be an unsightly afterthought?
When your fireplace ‘feels’ aggressive, try one of these ideas to ‘tone down’ your fireplace:
• Use the water element: blue, water or wavy lines, to subdue your fire.
• Earth tones and earth products can soften the fire; clay pots, slate tiles, tumbled stones, pottery, raku wall hanging…will ground the spot.
• A mirror over the fireplace will amplify whatever it sees; candles in front of the mirror can help set a gentle mood.
• Note: Hanging a ‘water picture’ over the fireplace will tone down the fire so much that you may smother the fire element entirely.

One client* I visited had an abundance of red in her small condo: red leather couches, red seat cushions in the dining area, red items on the floor and in the bookcase…as well as a fire place. She expressed a real distaste for her fireplace! My opinion: There was too much representation of the fire-element in the whole condo. We changed the sofa cushions to a soft stripe to include other colours, and removed the red seat cushions in the kitchen. To ‘rearrange’ items on the large mantle of the fire wall, we introduced a soft, shimmery blue scarf to soften the edges of the mantle and placed a waterscape image over the fireplace. Several pointy knick-knack objects (also representing fire) were removed and replaced with softer shapes. What a difference; we toned down the fire energy to a level that she can relate to. The lady now ‘loves’ her fireplace in the condo.

Another client* had a 2-story fire-place, built with large pointy stones (a double fire-element). It was an aggressive ‘feature wall’ in a large, single-family home. Interesting enough, the lady of the house arranged the furniture to face towards this overbearing feature -making it appear even larger. To make this ‘great room’ more functional, I arranged the furniture to offset this aggressive feature and placed softer items (clay pots and tall branches) to the sides of the fireplace wall. These few actions shifted the focus of this room towards the baby-grand piano and photos of the grandchildren on another wall. The room is much calmer to live with.

Don’t have a fireplace? How to bring a balance of earth and fire in your area:
• Bring a little red colour in your décor with decorative pillows or ceramics pots.
• Tall items such as a lamp or stripes can mimic the upwards movement of fire. Use green (wood items) to ‘feed the fire’.
• Include some candles (more fire element-yang) and dim the lights (yin).
• Use warm tones in the area; caramel, copper, rust and soft yellows.
• Bring cozy textiles into the space (pillows, rugs and clay objects.) to soften the ambiance.
• Bring a cosy blanket to the couch to share with a friend.

“The outside of the house is where a person greets the world; inside is where a person retreats inward from the world into their own sacred space.“

Using ‘fire-and-earth elements’ to balance your space can encourage memorable moments with the ones closest to you. Use this room/space to relax, sit quietly or talk over things at the end of the day.
Take advantage of the shift that happens when seasons change; cultivate new habits and find opportunities to connect. Your home can become a better place to hang out.
Enjoy the journey; make the change today.
* The clients referred to, as all consultations, are discrete and anonymous; therefore, photographs of these examples are not available.

Kathryn Wilking is an Author, Home Stager and Feng Shui Consultant. With over 20 years of experience in Decorating and Home Improvements, she added Feng Shui to her skills. Feng shui is the ‘Art of Balance’. Kathryn works with Home Owners and Small Business to find balance and harmony in each situation. She is available for both site consultations and innovative talks about how Feng Shui can work for you! Kathryn delivers ‘Practical Solutions for Life!

As an active Professional Member of the International Feng Shui Guild, Kathryn is available for private consultations, talks and workshops. Check out her book ‘Practical Feng Shui for the Office’ (2013) and connect with her through kathrynwilking.com
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@KathrynWilking
Feng Shui Vancouver

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About Kathryn Wilking

Author, Home Stager, Feng Shui Consultant

Kathryn has inspired women for more than a decade to take charge of their lives; arranging their environment, home and office, to support a positive, prosperous lifestyle. She provides informative tips and talks to organizations and small groups through her Facebook Group and Blog Posts and recorded podcasts. Contact her today for more info about bringing the practical application of Feng Shui into your space.

Her book, Practical Feng Shui for the Office; never goes out of style!
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